Gauge for printed sheet register marks



July 30, 1963 H. W, CRANCE, JR

GAUGE FOR PRINTED SHEET REGISTER MARKS Filed May 8, 1961 HIS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,099,092 GAUGE FOR PRINTED SHEET REGISTER MARKS Harry W. Crance, Jr., Rochester, N.Y. Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,593 Claims. (Cl. 331-174) This invention relates to devices for ascertaining and checking or correcting the proper position or lay of printed matter on its stock. It is common practice to provide each cylinder `or plate of a printing press with a mark, such as a pair of short intersecting lines, which will print on the stock or paper being printed. Such lines or register marks are commonly positioned so as to be printed on a marginal portion of the stock or on a portion which is subsequently detached. The purpose of these register marks or lines is to provide accurate means for obtaining the correct lay, as by adjustment of the stops on the press, as well as for subsequently checking the lay so obtained and particularly for obtaining accurate register and coincidence of the impressions of dilcrent colors in multi-color printings. Proper registry is obtained only when such register marks or ylines of yall of the cylinders or plates precisely coincide.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device or gauge capable of obtaining the accurate lay of printed matter in a quick and precise manner.

Another object is to provide a device having the above advantages in a simple and inexpensive construction, convenient to use and accurate in results.

To these Iand other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all 4as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a plan view of a device embodying the present invention applied in use to a printed sheet;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device detached and showing adjustment of the parts, and

FIG. 3 is an end elevation as seen from the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

The invention is embodied in the present instance, by way of illustration, in a gauge comprising a member indicated generally at l10, of substantially rectangular form having one end portion 12 of plate-like shape and its other end 14 thickened to provide a part 16 elevated above the top surface of end portion 12. Part 16 is terminated at end portion 12 by a transversely extending reference shoulder or stop 18.

Means are provided in end portion 14 for slidably receiving and guiding one or more slides 20 for adjustable positioning over end portion 12. Such slides are preferably strips of transparent plastic material each having one end slidably fitted in a channel-like opening 22 in part 16, as shown. The slide is formed with a longitudinal slot 24 through which -a screw 25 is passed and threadedly engaged in part 16, with the head of the screw exposed in a slot 26 opening through the top of part 16. The head of the screw overlies the sides of the slot 24 in the slide and is thus readily accessible for turning, to clamp the slide in adjusted position.

End portion 12 is marked with a series of transverse scale lines 28 corresponding to di'erent linear distances from the shoulder or stop 18, being marked in the present instance to read Sz, 1/2 and 5A; of an inch, although any desired number of such scale ylines may be employed to represent any desired distances. The slide is marked with an index line 30 adapted to be positioned in precise registry with a division 28 of the scale on end portion 12 of member 10, as shown, before application of the gauge to a printed sheet.

A plurality of such slides 20 are preferably employed and positioned in relatively spaced, parallel relation, as

Patented July 30, 1963 ICC shown. Two of the slides may be employed, for example, for adjustment of their index marks to coincidence with the same line 28 of the scale of end portion 12, for use in securing the proper lay ot one edge of the printed matter relative to one edge of the stock, for insuring a parallel relation between the two, after which another of the sli-des is conveniently employed for checking the distance of a side edge of the printed matter from the side edge of the stock, so as to insure a lay of proper yalignment and marginal width. Thus, three slides 20 may be employed, as shown, the two outer slides marked L and R being used to position the left and right ends of the bottom of the printed matter parallel with and at the proper marginal width from the bottom or gripping edge of the stock, the remaining slide marked SG being used to correctly posi-Y tion the printed matter relative to a side edge of the stock. It is obvious, however, that two of the slides may be employed to position the printed matter relative to a side edge and the remaining slide to position the printed matter relative -to the gripping edge, as found most convenient.

In use, the usual -stops of the cylinder or plate are set to provide an approximate lay of the printed matter and a trial printing is checked by inserting the edge portion 12 of gauge member 10 under the bottom or gripping edge of the sheet, with the latter against the gauge stop shoulder 18. The slides having been set by the scale lines 28 to the desired position, and being positioned above the sheet, the lines Sil are compared for registry with the register marks of the sheet. In the absence of precise registry, the gauge indicates the necessary adjustment of the stops of the press to obtain an accurate lay. The gauge is conveniently employed also for checking the lay of the printed matter Vfrom time to time to insure the maintenance of accurate registry.

The invention -thus provides a gauge by means of which the lay of printed matter on its stock may be determined or set quickly and with extreme precision. Its construction, furthermore, is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, as well as convenient to adjust and apply 4in use.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

l claim: A

l. A ygauge for printed sheet register marks comprising a member having one end portion of plate-like shape adapted to be inserted :under the edge of a printed -sheet provided with margin width register marks and having another end portion provided with a plurality of parallel guide means and a positioning abutment extending transversely of said lguide means, said one end portion being marked with a linear scale of margin widths measured from said abutment and a plurality of relatively spaced, parallel slides of transparent material slidably adjustable in said guide means, respectively above said end portion and each provided with a mark adapted to be positioned in register with a selected indicia of said `scale and thereafter applied to register marks respectively of said sheet with an edge of said sheet interposed between said member and said slides and against said abutment, to verify the positions of said register marks on said sheet.

2. A gauge constructed as speciiied in claim l in which said other end portion is elevated above said one end portion and said guide means are parallel channel openings in said other end portion in which said slides are slideably adjustable, respectively, land provided with means for securing them in adjusted positions.

3. A gauge constructed as specified in claim 2 in which said slides are strips of transparent material each formed with a longitudinally extending slot and having a screw passed through Ithe slot thereof and threaded into said other end portion for releasably securing said slide in said adjusted position.

4. A gauge for obtaining the correct lay 0f printed matter on a sheet having register marks printed thereon, comprising a plate-like member having at one end portion a surface adapted to be inserted under the edge of a printed sheet printed with margin Width register marks and having another end portion provided with guide means and a positioning abutment extending transversely -to said guide means, said surface of said one end portion being marked with alinear scale of margin widths extending thereacross and measured from said abutment, 4a plurality of slides slidably adjustable in said guide means above said surface of said one end portion, means for releasably securing said slides in adjusted positions, each of said slides being provided with a mark adapted to be positioned in register with a selected indicia of said scale and thereafter applied to a register mark yof said sheet With an edge of said sheet interposed between said scale marked surface of said member and said slide and against said abutment to verify the position of said register 1marks on said sheet.

5. A gauge having the construction specied in claim 4 in lwhich said other end portion is elevated above said one end portion and said guide means are openings in said other end portion in which said slides are slidably adjust able and provided With means for securing them in adjusted position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schmidt Aug. 14, 1928 

1. A GAUGE FOR PRINTED SHEET REGISTER MARKS COMPRISING A MEMBER HAVING ONE END PORTION OF PLATE-LIKE SHAPE ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED UNDER THE EDGE OF A PRINTED SHEET PROVIDED WITH MARGIN WIDTH REGISTER MARKS AND HAVING ANOTHER END PORTION PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL GUIDE MEANS AND A POSITIONING ABUTMENT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID ONE END PORTION BEING MARKED WITH A LINEAR SCALE OF MARGIN WIDTHS MEASURED FROM SAID ABUTMENT AND A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY SPACED, PARALLEL SLIDES OF TRANSPARENT MATERIAL SLIDABLY ADJUSTABLE IN SAID GUIDE MEANS, RESPECTIVELY ABOVE SAID END PORTION AND EACH PROVIDED WITH A MARK ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN REGISTER WITH A SELECTED INDICIA OF SAID SCALE AND THEREAFTER APPLIED TO REGISTER MARKS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID SHEET WITH AN EDGE OF SAID SHEET INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID MEMBER AND SAID SLIDES AND AGAINST SAID ABUTMENT, TO VERIFY THE POSITIONS OF SAID REGISTER MARKS ON SAID SHEET. 